Milking-machine.



R. M. MILLER.

MILKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8. I914.

Pzite'nted July 4, 1916.

- .UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE,

; REUBEN MARLEY MILLER, or DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO

N. I). RUTHERFORD.

' I MILKING-MAC'HINE.

' and useful Improvements in Milking-Machines, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to mechanical milking'fapparatus and particularlyto a vacuum or suction chamber therefor.

The object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and-mode of operation of such devices whereby they will not onlybe cheapened in construction but will be more eflicient in use, positivein operation, quick in action, easily operated, and unlikely to get outof repair.

Mechanical milking apparatus, as usually constructed, embodies a suctionpump, a tubular connection designed for attachment to the animal, and achamber common to both the pump and tubular connection in which theinduced flow of milk is received.-

It has been found undesirable in practice to make the pail or ultimatereceiver the vacuum chamber due to the difficulties experienced inrendering the pail or receiver airtight and the deleterious effect ofthe exhaustion of the entrained air from the milk. Such constructionshave also been found inefficient and defective through the constantlydecreasing volume or capacity of the vacuum chamber as the pail orreceiver is filled.

One of the primary objects of thepresent invention is to provide avacuum chamber which will be independent of the pail or receiver andwhich will not necessitate the hermetically sealing of the pail orreceiver during the milking operation. I A further object of theinvention is to provide for such vacuum chamber an automatic valve whichwill relieve the vacuum within the chamber at each stroke of the pump,causing the milk to be intermittently discharged from the vacuum chamberto the pail or receiver without unduly submitting the milk to theinfluence of the vacuum by which the animal heat and the entrained airmight be extracted.

further object of the invention is to -render said automatic valve freemoving or floating, and so mounted: as to be substantiallyself-cleansing and adaptedto avoid the Specification of Letters Patent.Patented July 4 1916. Application filed September 8, 1914. Serial No.860,521

deposit ,of foreign matter or other material thereon which might tend toclog its action. A further object of the invention is to provide meansfor preventing the entrainment of the milk by the air exhausted from thechamber which might tend to carry particles of milk from the chamber tothe pump.

Further objects of the invention are providing means by which the flowof milk may be observed, and for detachably engaging the vacuum chamberwith the cover of the pail or receiver, and for detachably connectingthe. floating valve with the chamber.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of .the'acuum chamber applied to a receiver or retainer. Fig. 2

is adetail bottom plan view of the vacuum chamber with the floatingvalve removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the observation port. Fig. 4:is a detail sectional view of a modification of the floating valvesupport.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views. The device forming the subject matter hereof may beemployed with any type of' a single acting or intermittent suction pumpand. likewise with any suitable design or type of udder attachment. Thepump and udder attachment, which form no part of the present invention,have not been illustrated in the drawings, and will not be described.

Such devices are now common in the art.

In the drawing. 1 s the pail or.c0nta1ner in which the milk is received.The pail, or

container is provided with a removable cover 2 on which is supported thevacuum chamber forming the subject matter hereof. The vacuum chamber ispreferably though not necessarily formed in two parts separable one fromthe other and comprising a barrel portion 3 and a top or dome portion 4:de tachablyconnected with the barrel portion 3 byscrew threading orother means. The barrel 3 and dome l are provided with peripheralflanges 5 and 6, respectively, be-

tween which the lid .2 is clamped.

Extending from the top of the dome 4: is

the air outlet conduit 7 which communicates with the suction pump.Entering the dome 4: at. one side-thereof is the milk inlet conduit 8which communicates with the udder connection. This inlet conduit 8preferably comprises a glass tube 9 inclosedin a me tallic sleeve 10which is provided with a transverse opening or port 11 through which themilk passing through the glass conduit or tube 9 may be observed.

Projecting downward within the dome 4 and concentric with the outletconduit 7 is a sleeve 12 having in one side thereof a longitigdinal slot13. The sleeve 1?. acts as a a prevent it being drawn out through theoutlet conduit 7. It is to be noted that the sleeve 12 is of greaterdiameter than the outlet conduit 7. The enlarged terminal opening of thesleeve together with the longitudinal slot 13 tends to. reduce theviolence with which the air is through the outlet 7 and prevents theentrainment of the milk by the air. This construction obviates thepossibility of drops of milk which may trickle down the outside wall ofthe sleeve being drawn within the sleeve and carried off through theoutlet 7 exhaustion of milk spray to minimum.

- or fingers 15 and 16. The fin At its lower end the barrel portion 3 isprovided with a detachable collar 14 having a plurality of inwardprojecting ledges gers or ledges 15 and 16 are preferably located atdifferent levels or heights as shown in Fig. 1. Resting normally ininclined position upon the fingers or ledges 15 and 16 is a floatingvalve member 17 comprising a disk of alloy, aluminum composition orother light material adapted to seat itself upon the lower edge of thevalve 3 to hermetically close the chamber. The valve member 17 isentirely free upon its supports 15 and 16 and is lifted to its seatedposition upon the extremity of the barrel 3 by the suction pump.

- Thus the-initial action of the pump causes the floating valve 17 to belifted thereby closing or hermetically sealing the vacuum chambercausing the influence of the pump to be subsequently exerted upon theudder attachment, through the conduit 8.

The flow of milk discharged through the conduit 8 to the chamber isreceived on the floating valve 17 which, at the end of the pump stroke,will fall through gravity due to its own weight and the weight ofthe'milk supported, thereby allowing the milk to escape from the vacuumchamber into the pail or container. The valve 17 being free for rotarymovement as well as movement to and from its seat, is adapted to clearitself of any foreign material which may lodge thereon and which mightprevent a proper seating of the valve. The collar 14 may be secured byscrew threading or by any other suitable means. In the drawings, it hasbeen shown attached by the ordinary form of bayonet slot 18.

In Fig. 4; there is shown a modification of the valve support in whichthe floating valve e plate to interrupt the flow of milk and drawn fromthe chamber,

the current of air and also reduces the v the principle member 17 isprovidedwith a central de pression 19 in which engages a supporting stud20 projecting upward from a pendent bridge 21 carried by the detachablering 14. The valve member 17 in this construction is balanced upon thestud about which it is free to rotate or to oscillate. "The lateraldisplacement of the floating valve is prevented by the arms orconnections 22 of the pendent bridge. It is to be noted that the valvemember is free about its entire periphery and may tilt in any directionto discharge the contents of the vacuum chamber. The operation of thisdevice is exactly the same as that before described.

lVhile this device is especially designed for use with milkingapparatus, it is to be understood that it is not limited to such use butmay form a part of a suction or pumping apparatus for various otheruses. In view of its adaptability to other uses, the claims are not tobe understood as limited to milking apparatus.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable but which Iobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction or arrangement of parts without departing from involved orsacrificing any of its advantages.

lVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to certain structuralfeatures, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited toany specific details, but that the means and construction hereindescribed comprise but one mode of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed broadly in any of its possibleforms or modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character detherein, and an independentclosure member'loosely supported in a normally inclined position formovement to open and close said orifice, said closure member beingoperative for opening movement by gravity so as to be drawn intoposition to close the orifice by the initial exhaustion of the chamber.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber having anormally open orifice therein, and a normally inclined closure memberloosely supported and mounted for pivotal movement toward and from saidorifice, said closing member being adapted for gravital opening movementand for closing movement under the initial exhaustion of said chamber.

3. In an apparatus of the character (18- scribed, a vacuum chamberhaving an orifice therein, and a closure member therefor comprising anormally inclined plate loosely supported for pivotal movement towardand from said opening,.said plate being adapted for movement by gravityto an open position and to be closed by the initial exhaustion of thechamber; I

4.1 11 7 an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamberhaving an orifice therein, a normally inclined independentfloatingclosure member therefor, and means for movably supporting saidmember adjacent to the orifice.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber havingan orifice therein, a normally inclined independent floating closureplate therefor, and means for loosely supporting said plate for pivotalmovement toward and from said orifice.

6; In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber havingan orifice therein, a closure member therefor aiid means for supportingthe closure .member in an inclined position adjacent to the orifice butremoved therefrom.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber, amovable bottom for said chamber adapted by its movement to open andclose the chamber to the atmosphere, and means supporting said mov-'able bottom for loose universal pivotal motion, said means adapting saidmovable bottom to be moved in one direction by gravity and in the otherdirection by air pressure upon the exhaustion of the chamber.

8. In an apparatus of the character de-- scribed, a acuum chamber havingan orifice therein, a loose closure plate therefor, and means forsupporting said plate for universal pivotal motion adjacent to theorifice.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber havingan orifice therein, and a loose closure plate therefor pivotallysupported for both vibratory and revoluble movement adjacent to theorifice.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber havingan orifice able vertically with relation to said orifice.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a vacuum chamber havinga lateral fluid inlet 111 its top, an axial-air outlet at its top, andan open end sleeve entending within the chamber in line with the airoutlet and terminating above the bottom of the chamber and at a pointbeyond the lateral fluid inlet, said sleeve being provided with alateral inlet port in its Wall opposite the lateral fluid inlet port.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a. vacuum chamber havinginlet and outlet-orifices, and an open end sleeve projecting Within thechamber in line with the out-let orifice and communicating with theinterior thereof, said sleeve having an air inlet portin its lateralWall, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day ofSeptember A. D.

' REUBEN LL u-LEY MILLER.

